Ask HN: Is open source a must for developer tools?

[alexzender]

I would like to build a business around developer tools and see that most of developer tools are open-source (Apollo GraphQL, Prisma, Spring Framework, etc).

However when bootstrapping without venture capital, open-sourcing your work may make it easy to copy you.

Is open-sourcing and running as fast as you can the only viable option for developer tools today?

[stratified]

Developer tools is a broad term. My subjective opinion:

* If you mean code libraries (e.g. a licensing model)? I don’t think a lot of people would pay for that these days.

* Managed solutions for sure, most developers and small companies are happy to outsource anything that reeks of devops.

* IDEs etc, yup worth every penny.

[alexzender]

Yes, I was thinking about libraries that may boost productivity and avoid writing something from scratch.

Managed solution is a good option, need to find a way to build trust at the beginning though.

[jimmyvalmer]

As soon as one participant decides to give it away for free to increase market share, then every participant must do the same. So the cost of intellectual property goes to zero, and everyone now competes in a decidedly less lucrative market of service contracts.

[alexzender]

Interesting perspective, reminds me of a game theory. Thanks!

[pjmlp]

Depends on the target audience, there is plenty of business opportunities with developer tooling when targeting corporations.

From my point of view, and a bit sour experience as well, if you want to charge money for developer tools that is the market you should focus on.

[alexzender]

Understood, thank you. Upmarket is an interesting area to focus on first, even it's not that scalable.